Inwardly removable refrigeration unit



Oct. 13, 1936. J. l Q. REPLOGLE I 2,057,447

,INWARDLY REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed Feb. 20, 1932 4 Sheefis-Sheet 1 L INVENTOR $0717? F. 'fieplayle.

A ORNEYS.

' o KEQ Oct. 13, 1936. J. R. REPLOGLE INWARDLY REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1952 Oct. 13; 1936.

J. R. REPLOGLE INWAHDLY REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20, 1952 Oct. 13, 1936. J. R. REPLOGLE INWARDLY REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 20, 1932 m M 7/4 h a o w 9K .m g A. n v M fim Patented Oct. is, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,057,44 INWARDLY REMOVABIi E REFRIGERATION John R. Replogle, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Copeland Refrigeration Corporation, Mount Clemens, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application February 20, 1932, Serial No. 594,161

1 Claim.

This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and has particular relation to the coordination of cabinet and refrigerating mechanism designs in order to simplify the construction and to widen the range of application of the apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator which can be located in any desired position in a building, even permanently built into a wall thereof if such is desired, and from which the refrigerating mechanism can be removed without the necessity for moving the cabinet or for disarranging any other household equipment or furnishings which may be positioned adjacent thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating mechanism constructed as an integral operating unit which can be installed and removed through the door through which the refrigerator content is accessible.

Another object of the invention is to construct a refrigerator having an uninsulated machine compartment located in an upper rearwardly disposed region therein and an insulated refrigerating compartment disposed in front of and beneath said machine compartment with the dividing heat insulating wall between said compartments secured to and supported by the refrigerating mechanism employed therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating mechanism which can be removed from a refrigerator with which it is employed either downwardly or laterally, or by a resultant of sfich two movements, and then outwardly through a door through which the interior of the refrigerator is accessible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive refrigerator construction with which a unitary and removable refrigerating mechanism, operable for efiiciently cooling the interior of the refrigerator, can be employed.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises generally a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and an uninsulated machine compartment located within the exterior limits of the refrigerator in a recess formed behind an upper portion of said insulated compartment and above'a lower portion thereof. The machine and the refrigerating compartments are in open communicatlon with each other along the front and lower limits of the machine compartment except when the refrigerating mechanism is operatively installed and then the two compartments are separated by a vertically disposed wall separating the evaporating and condensing units of the realong the rear edge of the horizontal partition,

which is supported by the rear wall of the cabinet, and this part of the unit can be released simply by pulling the unit forwardly toward the refrigerator door.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a refrigerator embracing the principles of this invention and taken on a plane just above the refrigerating mechanism employed therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through the refrigerator illustrated by Fig. 1, substantially on line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is another vertical sectional view of an upper portion of the refrigerator illustrated by Fig. 1 taken in a plane substantially normal to the plane of Fig. 2 and on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view on a smaller scale of a refrigerator illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with a portion of the structure broken away so as to expose the view, a part of the refrigerating mechanism disposed therein;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken directly in front of and at one side of the removable refrigerating mechanism unit for illustrating the manner in which such unit is held in position;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated by Fig. 5 as it might appear in the plane of one of the refrigerating unit supporting bolts.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a refrigerator I0, employed in practicing the invention, comprises a heat insulated cabinet ii having a front door l2 through which a refrigerating compartment l3 formed inside the cabinet H is accessible. Also embraced within the refrigerator H1 is a removable refrigerating mechanism unit It comprising a condensing unit It located in a machine compartment I1 and an evaporating unit I8 located in the refrigerating compartment I3. Supporting such refrigerating mechanism and providing a heat insulated partition between the machine compartment I1 and the refrigerating compartment i3 is an insulated wall or partition l9 which is secured rigidly to the cabinet H by bolts 2|.

The cabinet ll essentially comprises a pair of insulated side walls 22 and 23 connected at their lower edges by a bottom wall (not shown) and at .the rear edges thereof by a rear wall 24. The

rear wall-terminates at the machine compartment l1 and the side walls are cut out forwardly therefrom to the frontof the machine compartment. The upper extremities of the side walls 22 and 23 in front of the machine compartment are closed by an upper wall 26 and these walls, together with the partition I9 and the front door l2, complete the refrigerating compartment formed by the cabinet II. I

Embraced in the front edges of the side, top and bottom walls of the cabinet H, is a wooden or other suitable door frame 21 around the inner edge of which is secured in spaced relation the inwardly and outwardly flanged edges 28 and 29 respectively of outer and inner refrigerator, linings 3| and 32 respectively. The edges of these linings are secured to the frame 21 by rows of screws 33 and 34 which also extend through openings formed in the opposite edges of door moldings or trim strips 35 formed of any suitable heat insulating material.

The door l2 comprises a frame 31, by which the door is secured to the cabinet by hinges and a latch not shown, and to the edges of which, in a region directly opposite the front surface of the cabinet, is secured the inwardly and outwardly flanged edges of outer and inner door linings 38 and 39 respectively. Secured to the door I! directly over such outer and inner lining edges is a compressible door gasket 4| which abuts the front surface of the cabinet for restricting the circulation of air to or from the interior of the cabinet.

The outer refrigerator lining 3| continues rearwardly beyond the upper portions of the side walls 22 and 23 and upwardly'beyond the rear wall 24 and thus defines the two sides and back of the machine compartment IT. The top of the machine compartment I1 is covered by a continuation of the outer lining 3| which extends rearwardly from the upper surface of the upper cabinet wall 26. Both the upper and rear walls of the machine compartment I! thus formed have large openings formed therein to permit the upwardly directed circulation of air over the condensing unit it from the rear of the refrigerator.

The cabinet also is provided with a removable cover 42 which is supported on the upper part of the refrigerator outer lining 3! by transversely extending supporting brackets 43 securedto the lining by small bolts 44. Above the machine compartment H, the cover is provided with a plurality of louvres 46 to permit the circulation of air upwardlyfrom the condensing unit ii. The refrigerator outer lining 3| at the sides of the machine compartment [1 is reinforced by rectangularly shaped and flanged inserts 41 which are secured to the edges of the side walls 22 and 23 by screws 48 and to the upper and rear parts of the refrigerator lining if by bolts 49.

In the opening in the cabinet I l, between the refrigerating and the machine compartments i3 and I1 respectively, is a cabinet reinforcing frame 5| which provides the cabinet with suflicient interior strength to support the refrigerating mechanism unit M. The portion of this frame above the rear wall 24 is provided with a longitudinal notch 52, along the upper inner edge thereof,

which is partly closed by an overhanging strip 53 secured to the upper surface of the wall by screws 54. Similar strips 56, 51 and 58 secured to the sides and top respectively of the frame 5i project inwardly of the opening between the machine compartment l1 and a refrigerating compartment lit to provide, together with the strip 53, abutments for supporting resilient gaskets 6| disposed on the strips on the refrigerating compartment side thereof. The gaskets are secured to the strips in any suitable manner as, for example, by the employment of cement or other adhesive capable of uniting the materials selected for the construction of these parts.

Rigidly secured in the corners of the frame 5|, remote from the rear and upper walls 24 and 2B, and projecting inwardly of the cabinet along the surface of the strips 56 and 51 are a pair of unit supporting blocks 62 and 83 secured to the frame 5! by bolts 64 and 66 extending at right angles to each other through the frame and blocks. The inwardly projecting ends of these blocks (see Fig. 6) are provided with diagonally disposed openings 61 extending inwardly of the blocks from the refrigerating compartment sides thereof and over which are secured. by screws or other suitable means (not shown) the flattened corners of angle brackets 68. Inside these openings and secured rigidly in any suitable manner-to the angle brackets 68 are nuts 59 in which are received the threaded ends of studs 2| employed in supporting the refrigeration unit l4. Suitable openings are provided in the brackets and the gasket SI for receiving the studs.

The removable unit supporting partition I9 comprises a horizontally disposed section II having formed integrally with the front edge thereof a vertically disposed section I2 projecting upwardly therefrom. Disposeddiagonally with respect to these sections and extending along the adjacent edges thereof is an interiorly disposed supporting bar I3, the opposite edges of which are slotted, as indicated at I4, for receiving-the studs 2| Frame members I6, disposed within the partition [9 around the outer extremity thereof and elsewhere where reinforcement is required are provided with laterally extending edge portions 'l'l normally abutting the refrigerating compartment surfaces of the compressible gasket 6|. Around these edges and along the rearmost edge of the partition M are disposed the inwardly flanged edges of an inner partition lining 18, with which the partition [9 is covered. The lining i8 is provided with abutments 8| formed in the regions where the bolts 2| extend through openings formed in the lining, for supporting the heads of the bolts 2| in the proper position to direct the bolts at an angle toward the nuts 59.

Secured above 'the horizontal wall H of the partition [9 and on rubber blocks or other suitable resilient supporting members 82, is a horizontally disposed condensing unit base 83 which is secured against displacement by bolts 84 projecting through the blocks 82 and part way through members of the frame 16 disposed within opposite sides of the horizontal partition.' Nuts 86 disposed on opposite ends of the studs 82 are employed for securing the bolts to the frame and for retaining the base 83 on the blocks 82.

Disposed at one end of the base 83 is a motorcompressor unit 81, of the refrigerant condensing unit it and which embraces a casing 88 having a plurality of supporting legs 89 projecting downwardly therefrom which are secured rigidly to the casing 88, which is approximately of cylindrical formation, has extending around a middle portion thereof a plurality of outwardly projecting circular fins 93 by which a considerable portion of the heat generated by the operation of the motorcompressor unit is dissipated to the atmosphere. Within the casing 88 is disposed the rotor and stator of any suitable motor (not shown) which is mounted for operation within the casing on suitable bearings formed internally thereof. The end of the casing adjacent the motor is closed by a relatively large cover 94 which is secured to a flanged open end of the casing by a plurality of bolts such as indicated at 96.

An opposite end of the casing has formed integrally therewith a refrigerant compressor 91, the operating mechanism of which is connected directly to the motor within the casing 88. The end of the casing adjacent the compressor 91 is likewise closed by a head 98 which is secured to the casing by studs such as that indicated at 99.

The compressor 91 is provided with a valve plate I9I on which is secured, by studs I92, a compressor head I93 in which gas discharged by the compressor, through the valve plate I9I, is collected and discharged through a fitting I94 extending therefrom and a conduit I95 communicating at its opposite end with the upper one of a plurality of sections I91 of a refrigerant condenser I98.

This condenser may be cooled either by an air circulating fan, by a fluid other than air circulating in any suitable manner thereover or, as illustrated, by the natural draft circulation of air resulting from the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof. For accomplishing such circulation of air each of the sections I91 comprises a continuously wound conduit and all of the sections are connected together at corresponding ends and arranged one above another between a spaced pair of supporting plates I99 and II I, the outwardly flanged lower edges of which are secured to the base 83 by bolts I I2. The sections of conduit between the aforesaid plates are provided with fins II3 of any suitable character for increasing the heat exchanging surface of the condenser.

The lower section of the condenser is connected at one end to one end of a curved refrigerant receiver II4 having a pair of parallel legs I It disposed immediately adjacent the lower extremities of the supporting plates I99. Below the receiver the base 83 is provided with one or more openings II 1 to permit the circulation of air upwardly, through the receiver and the sections of the condenser, from beneath the base 83. The opposite leg of the receiver H4, from that to which the lower condenser section is connected, communicates with a refrigerant liquid line II8 which extends upwardly along one side of the condenser and to an opening in the vertical section 12 of the partition I9, and thence into the refrigerating compartment I3. The liquid line is there connected by a fitting II9 to a refrigerant expansion valve I2'I in turn connected by a coupling I22 to the inlet end I23 of an elongated expansion conduit I24 which is wound in convolutions around the exterior surface of an elongated sleeve I28 which forms the freezingcompartment of the evaporator I8.

The opposite end of the conduit I24 is connected by a coupling I28 to one end of a suction line I29which extends out of the refrigerating compartment I3, along 'with the liquid line I I8, through the opening in the partition I9 and into the machine compartment I1. There the suction line I29 is connected by a. coupling I8I to the interior. of the casing 88 through the head 84. During the operation of the apparatus, evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator I8, through the suction line I29 andthe interior of the casing I8, into the suction side of the compressor 91.

For supporting the evaporating unit I8 the rear end of the sleeve I26 is provided with a plurality of brackets I32 secured rigidly in spaced relation to the partition I4 between nuts I33 and I34 engaging bolts I39, the heads of which are secured inside the lining 18 in reinforcing channel bars I31. The bars are secured by screws or other suitable means (not shown) to the internal frame of the partition I9 to prevent the load of supporting the evaporator I8 from being carried by thelining 18.

Secured in a horizontal position on the. side walls of the sleeve I29 is a shelf I38 on which is supported a freezing tray I39, while beneath the shelf a similar tray MI is supported on the lower wall of the sleeve I26. Secured on the front of the sleeve is a baflle I42, having an opening formed therein through which the trays I39 and I49 can be inserted and removed, and having an upwardly projecting portion I43 on the rear surface of which is supported a refrigerator thermostat or other suitable controlling device I44. The upper portion I43 of the baffle is provided with an opening through which adjusting elements I46 or the thermostat or controller project. Extending from the rear of the controller I44 is a small conduit I41 the other end of which terminates in a bulb I48 which is secured by a bracket I49 between a pair of convolutions of the conduit I24 adjacent the suction line thereof. This bulb contains a suitable fluid the pressure of which responds to the variation in temperature of the evaporator I8 and causes the operation of a switch embraced within the controller I44 which controls the cycling operation of the refrigerating mechanism.

The switch and the motor located in the casing 88 are connected in series by conductors embraced in a power line I5I which supplies electrical energy to the mechanism. The opening in the wall or partition I 9, which also receives the power line I5I, is closed around the various connecting elements of the mechanism projecting therethrough by the insertion therein of any suitable plastic insulating material indicated at I 53, which prevents circulation of air between the refrigerating compartment I3 and the machine compartment I1.

In order to provide means for supporting food and other products in the interior of the refrigerator, the lining 32 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending supports I56 upon which a plurality of shelves I91 are disposed in suitably spaced relation.

In order to remove the refrigerating unit I4 from the cabinet II, the evaporator end thereof is held upwardly in its normal position in any suitable manner while the studs 2| are removed. Thereafter the mechanism unit is withdrawn from the cabinet simply by pulling the unit forwardly to release its support, along the rear edge of the partition section 1i, upon the upper end of the rear refrigerator wall 24. Thereafter the unit is removed from the cabinet through the door opening in the front thereof, all without moving the cabinet II and without having approached the cabinet from a direction other than per extremity of the rear wall 24 and beneath the gasket 6|. Thereafter the front end of the unit is elevated until the unit is disposed in its normal position and then the studs 2| are inserted in the partition and tightened within the nuts 69 until the gasket 6| is sufllciently compressed throughout. Under such circumstances the unit is securely held in operative position within the cabinet and can be employed for refrigerating the interior thereof merely by connecting the terminals of the power line l5l to a source of electrical energy.

While the structure as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form and application of the invention, it is to be understood that other structures differing widely from that herein disclosed are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:-

A refrigerator comprising a heat insulating cabinet having a rear wall terminating at its upper edge below the upper edges of the side walls thereof and a top wall terminating at its rear edge in front of said rear wall, a removable L-shaped heat insulating partition extending across the space between the upper extremity of said rear wall and the rear extremity of said upper wall comprising a vertically extendingsection and a horizontally extending section permanently secured together, a refrigerant evaporator mounted on the forward face of said vertically extending section, a refrigerant condensing unit supported by said partition rearwardly of said vertically extending section, means connecting said evaporator and unit, and threaded means located adjacent the line of junction of said sections and acting in an upward and rearward direction to secure said partition in place in said cabinet 'and transmit the weight of said partition and parts mounted thereon to the body of said cabinet.

JOHN R. REPLOGLE. 

